First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
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Enter Macduffes Wife, her Son, and Rosse. | Enter Macduff's Wife, her Son, and Ross | | Mac IV.ii.1 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
What had he done, to make him fly the Land? | What had he done to make him fly the land? | | Mac IV.ii.1 | |
Rosse. | ROSS | | | |
You must haue patience Madam. | You must have patience, madam. | | Mac IV.ii.2.1 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
He had none: | He had none. | | Mac IV.ii.2.2 | |
His flight was madnesse: when our Actions do not, | His flight was madness; when our actions do not, | | Mac IV.ii.3 | |
Our feares do make vs Traitors. | Our fears do make us traitors. | | Mac IV.ii.4.1 | |
Rosse. | ROSS | | | |
You know not | You know not | | Mac IV.ii.4.2 | |
Whether it was his wisedome, or his feare. | Whether it was his wisdom or his fear. | | Mac IV.ii.5 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
Wisedom? to leaue his wife, to leaue his Babes, | Wisdom! To leave his wife, to leave his babes, | | Mac IV.ii.6 | |
His Mansion, and his Titles, in a place | His mansion and his titles, in a place | title (n.)possession, lordship, dominion | Mac IV.ii.7 | |
From whence himselfe do's flye? He loues vs not, | From whence himself does fly? He loves us not. | | Mac IV.ii.8 | |
He wants the naturall touch. For the poore Wren | He wants the natural touch; for the poor wren, | touch (n.)trait, quality, feature | Mac IV.ii.9 | |
| | natural (adj.)feeling proper affection, having normal feelings | | |
| | want (v.)lack, need, be without | | |
(The most diminitiue of Birds) will fight, | The most diminutive of birds, will fight, | diminitive (adj.)diminutive | Mac IV.ii.10 | |
Her yong ones in her Nest, against the Owle: | Her young ones in her nest, against the owl. | | Mac IV.ii.11 | |
All is the Feare, and nothing is the Loue; | All is the fear and nothing is the love, | | Mac IV.ii.12 | |
As little is the Wisedome, where the flight | As little is the wisdom, where the flight | | Mac IV.ii.13 | |
So runnes against all reason. | So runs against all reason. | | Mac IV.ii.14.1 | |
Rosse. | ROSS | | | |
My deerest Cooz, | My dearest cuz, | | Mac IV.ii.14.2 | |
I pray you schoole your selfe. But for your Husband, | I pray you school yourself. But, for your husband, | school (v.)control, correct, teach wisdom to | Mac IV.ii.15 | |
He is Noble, Wise, Iudicious, and best knowes | He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows | | Mac IV.ii.16 | |
The fits o'th' Season. I dare not speake much further, | The fits o'the season. I dare not speak much further, | season (n.)age [period of history], time | Mac IV.ii.17 | |
| | fit (n.)conflict, beating, turmoil | | |
But cruell are the times, when we are Traitors | But cruel are the times when we are traitors | | Mac IV.ii.18 | |
And do not know our selues: when we hold Rumor | And do not know, ourselves; when we hold rumour | | Mac IV.ii.19 | |
From what we feare, yet know not what we feare, | From what we fear, yet know not what we fear, | | Mac IV.ii.20 | |
But floate vpon a wilde and violent Sea | But float upon a wild and violent sea, | | Mac IV.ii.21 | |
Each way, and moue. I take my leaue of you: | Each way and move. I take my leave of you; | | Mac IV.ii.22 | |
Shall not be long but Ile be heere againe: | Shall not be long but I'll be here again. | | Mac IV.ii.23 | |
Things at the worst will cease, or else climbe vpward, | Things at the worst will cease or else climb upward | | Mac IV.ii.24 | |
To what they were before. My pretty Cosine, | To what they were before. – My pretty cousin, | | Mac IV.ii.25 | |
Blessing vpon you. | Blessing upon you! | | Mac IV.ii.26 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
Father'd he is, / And yet hee's Father-lesse. | Fathered he is, and yet he's fatherless. | | Mac IV.ii.27 | |
Rosse. | ROSS | | | |
I am so much a Foole, should I stay longer | I am so much a fool, should I stay longer | | Mac IV.ii.28 | |
It would be my disgrace, and your discomfort. | It would be my disgrace and your discomfort. | | Mac IV.ii.29 | |
I take my leaue at once. | I take my leave at once. | | Mac IV.ii.30 | |
Exit Rosse. | Exit | | Mac IV.ii.30 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
Sirra, your Fathers dead, | Sirrah, your father's dead. | | Mac IV.ii.31 | |
And what will you do now? How will you liue? | And what will you do now? How will you live? | | Mac IV.ii.32 | |
Son. | SON | | | |
As Birds do Mother. | As birds do, mother. | | Mac IV.ii.33.1 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
What with Wormes, and Flyes? | What, with worms and flies? | | Mac IV.ii.33.2 | |
Son. | SON | | | |
With what I get I meane, and so do they. | With what I get, I mean; and so do they. | | Mac IV.ii.34 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
Poore Bird, / Thou'dst neuer Feare | Poor bird! thou'dst never fear | | Mac IV.ii.35 | |
the Net, nor Lime, / The Pitfall, nor the Gin. | The net nor lime, the pitfall nor the gin! | lime (n.)birdlime | Mac IV.ii.36 | |
| | gin (n.)snare, trap | | |
| | pitfall (n.)bird-trap, fowler's snare | | |
Son. | SON | | | |
Why should I Mother? / Poore Birds they are not set for: | Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for. | | Mac IV.ii.37 | |
My Father is not dead for all your saying. | My father is not dead, for all your saying. | | Mac IV.ii.38 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
Yes, he is dead: / How wilt thou do for a Father? | Yes, he is dead. How wilt thou do for a father? | | Mac IV.ii.39 | |
Son. | SON | | | |
Nay how will you do for a Husband? | Nay, how will you do for a husband? | | Mac IV.ii.40 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
Why I can buy me twenty at any Market. | Why, I can buy me twenty at any market. | | Mac IV.ii.41 | |
Son. | SON | | | |
Then you'l by 'em to sell againe. | Then you'll buy 'em to sell again. | | Mac IV.ii.42 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
Thou speak'st with all thy wit, | Thou speak'st with all thy wit; | wit (n.)mental sharpness, acumen, quickness, ingenuity | Mac IV.ii.43 | |
And yet I'faith with wit enough for thee. | And yet, i' faith, with wit enough for thee. | | Mac IV.ii.44 | |
Son. | SON | | | |
Was my Father a Traitor, Mother? | Was my father a traitor, mother? | | Mac IV.ii.45 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
I, that he was. | Ay, that he was. | | Mac IV.ii.46 | |
Son. | SON | | | |
What is a Traitor? | What is a traitor? | | Mac IV.ii.47 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
Why one that sweares, and lyes. | Why, one that swears and lies. | swear (v.)promise, vow, pledge | Mac IV.ii.48 | |
Son. | SON | | | |
And be all Traitors, that do so. | And be all traitors that do so? | | Mac IV.ii.49 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
Euery one that do's so, is a Traitor, | Every one that does so is a traitor, | | Mac IV.ii.50 | |
And must be hang'd. | And must be hanged. | | Mac IV.ii.51 | |
Son. | SON | | | |
And must they all be hang'd, that swear and lye? | And must they all be hanged that swear and lie? | | Mac IV.ii.52 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
Euery one. | Every one. | | Mac IV.ii.53 | |
Son. | SON | | | |
Who must hang them? | Who must hang them? | | Mac IV.ii.54 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
Why, the honest men. | Why, the honest men. | | Mac IV.ii.55 | |
Son. | SON | | | |
Then the Liars and Swearers are Fools: for there are | Then the liars and swearers are fools; for there are | | Mac IV.ii.56 | |
Lyars and Swearers enow, to beate the honest men, and hang | liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men and hang | enow (adv.)enough | Mac IV.ii.57 | |
vp them. | up them. | | Mac IV.ii.58 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
Now God helpe thee, poore Monkie: / But how wilt | Now God help thee, poor monkey! But how wilt | | Mac IV.ii.59 | |
thou do for a Father? | thou do for a father? | | Mac IV.ii.60 | |
Son. | SON | | | |
If he were dead, youl'd weepe for him: if you would not, | If he were dead, you'd weep for him; if you would | | Mac IV.ii.61 | |
it were a good signe, that I should quickely haue a new | not, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new | | Mac IV.ii.62 | |
Father. | father. | | Mac IV.ii.63 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
Poore pratler, how thou talk'st? | Poor prattler, how thou talk'st! | | Mac IV.ii.64 | |
Enter a Messenger. | Enter a Messenger | | Mac IV.ii.64 | |
Mes. | MESSENGER | | | |
Blesse you faire Dame: I am not to you known, | Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known, | dame (n.)lady, mistress, woman of rank | Mac IV.ii.65 | |
Though in your state of Honor I am perfect; | Though in your state of honour I am perfect. | perfect (adj.)well aware, fully informed | Mac IV.ii.66 | |
| | state (n.)status, rank, position | | |
I doubt some danger do's approach you neerely. | I doubt some danger does approach you nearly. | nearly (adv.)closely, particularly, especially | Mac IV.ii.67 | |
| | doubt (v.)fear, be afraid [for], feel anxious [for] | | |
If you will take a homely mans aduice, | If you will take a homely man's advice, | advice (n.)judgement, opinion, warning | Mac IV.ii.68 | |
Be not found heere: Hence with your little ones | Be not found here. Hence with your little ones! | | Mac IV.ii.69 | |
To fright you thus. Me thinkes I am too sauage: | To fright you thus methinks I am too savage; | methinks(t), methought(s) (v.)it seems / seemed to me | Mac IV.ii.70 | |
| | fright (v.), past form frightedfrighten, scare, terrify | | |
To do worse to you, were fell Cruelty, | To do worse to you were fell cruelty, | fell (adj.)mighty, terrible | Mac IV.ii.71 | |
Which is too nie your person. Heauen preserue you, | Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you! | nigh (adj.)near, close | Mac IV.ii.72 | |
I dare abide no longer. | I dare abide no longer. | | Mac IV.ii.73.1 | |
Exit Messenger | Exit | | Mac IV.ii.73 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
Whether should I flye? | Whither should I fly? | | Mac IV.ii.73.2 | |
I haue done no harme. But I remember now | I have done no harm. But I remember now | | Mac IV.ii.74 | |
I am in this earthly world: where to do harme | I am in this earthly world, where to do harm | | Mac IV.ii.75 | |
Is often laudable, to do good sometime | Is often laudable, to do good sometime | | Mac IV.ii.76 | |
Accounted dangerous folly. Why then (alas) | Accounted dangerous folly. Why then, alas, | | Mac IV.ii.77 | |
Do I put vp that womanly defence, | Do I put up that womanly defence | womanly (adj.)womanish, feeble, fearful | Mac IV.ii.78 | |
To say I haue done no harme? | To say I have done no harm? | | Mac IV.ii.79.1 | |
Enter Murtherers. | Enter Murderers | | Mac IV.ii.79 | |
What are these faces? | What are these faces? | | Mac IV.ii.79.2 | |
Mur. | MURDERER | | | |
Where is your Husband? | Where is your husband? | | Mac IV.ii.80 | |
Wife. | WIFE | | | |
I hope in no place so vnsanctified, | I hope in no place so unsanctified | unsanctified (adj.)unholy, wicked, ungodly | Mac IV.ii.81 | |
Where such as thou may'st finde him. | Where such as thou mayst find him. | | Mac IV.ii.82.1 | |
Mur. | MURDERER | | | |
He's a Traitor. | He's a traitor. | | Mac IV.ii.82.2 | |
Son. | SON | | | |
Thou ly'st thou shagge-ear'd Villaine. | Thou liest, thou shag-haired villain! | shag-haired (adj.)having shaggy hair, rough-haired | Mac IV.ii.83.1 | |
Mur. | MURDERER | | | |
What you Egge? | What, you egg, | | Mac IV.ii.83.2 | |
Yong fry of Treachery? | Young fry of treachery! | fry (n.)brood, offspring, progeny | Mac IV.ii.84.1 | |
| He stabs him | | Mac IV.ii.84 | |
Son. | SON | | | |
He ha's kill'd me Mother, | He has killed me, mother! | | Mac IV.ii.84.2 | |
Run away I pray you. | Run away, I pray you. | | Mac IV.ii.85 | |
Exit crying Murther. | Son dies. Exit Wife crying ‘ Murder ’ | | Mac IV.ii.85 | |